Barrier breakers in diversity

Sam Yoon

First Asian-American city councilor in Boston

Korean-born Yoon, who came to the United States with his family when he was 10 months old, graduated from Princeton University and worked as a public school teacher before he decided to go into politics.

He was served two terms as an at-large city councilor after being elected in 2006, and shared a mayoral ticket with fellow councilor Michael Flaherty in 2009. The two lost to long-time incumbent Thomas M. Menino, but the race was the closest Menino had ever faced.